Valve stem oil deflector means



1956 E. F. HEIMBUCH VALVE STEM OIL DEFLECTOR MEANS Filed Nov. 19, 1953 9 2 w a x a w a m 5 L J L X m" a TILII ak 4 LIL 5 2 /M z w E 3 1 fnuenjEr: flrnerf Ffl eimAZLC/Q .molzfogmlu wedge against split key cess quantities on the valve United States Patent F VALVE STEM OIL DEFLECTOR MEANS Elmer Fred Heimbuch, Chicago Heights, 111., assignor to Brummer Seal 00., Chicago Heights, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application November 19, 1953, Serial No. 393,083

4 Claims. (Cl. 123-90) This invention relates to valve stem oil deflector means, more particularly for over-head valves to prevent excess oil from running down the valve stem.

This application is a continuation in part of my prior co-pending application Serial No. 332,055, filed January 19, 1953, now abandoned.

The invention provides an improved and economical means for the purpose.

These and other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description, taken together with the accompanying drawings, of illustrative embodiments of the invention and in which drawings- Figure 1 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the valve stem and spring retainer parts, with an embodiment of the present invention associated therewith, the valve stem portion being shown in full lines and the valve rocker arm being indicated diagrammatically by broken lines;

Figure 2 is a view somewhat similar to Fig. 1 but showing the embodiment of the invention compressed by the rocker arm;

Figure 3 is a somewhat similar view of a slightly different embodiment of the invention;

Figure 4 shows a further modification;

Figure 5 shows a still further modification; and

Figure 6 is a plan view of the deflector member of Figs. 1 and 2.

Referring in detail to the illustrative embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 6, the numeral 11 may indicate the usual valve stem of an overhead valve for an internal combustion engine with which is associated the usual valve spring 12 abutted at its upper end against a spring retainer cup 13 of annular formation held to the upper end of the valve stem 11 by having its hollow body portion 14 downwardly and inwardly tapered to 15 which interlocks with the anvalve stem. The spring retainer cup formation by its hollow body and by being centrally dished at its upper end as at 17 about the valve stem 11 and the retainer has extending radially from the dished portion an annular rim or flange 18, the construction just described providing a lodgment 19 for the upper end of the valve spring 12 which not only limits movement of the spring but centers it about the valve stem. Oil used for lubrication of the overhead valve mechanism tends to accumulate in undesirable exstem 11. In particular, such oil tends to be collected by the dish portion 17 of the spring retainer 13 and to form a pool of oil therein which tends to run down the walls 20 of the valve stem and 21 of the retainer key 15 as well as through the joint or interface 22 between the two halves of the split key 15.

In accordance with the present invention, and turning first to Figs. 1, 2 and 6, I provide an umbella-like deflector member 23 of elastomeric material, such as rubber or preferably one of the rubber-like synthetic materials having a desirable resistance to deterioration under the influence of heat and oil, mounted on the stem upper end.

nular groove 16 on the 13 is conventionally of 2,759,466 Patented Aug. 21, 1956 Ice As suggested in Fig. 1, by manually depressing the valve stem, i. e. opening the valve against the action of the spring 12 so as to momentarily move the valve stem away from the rocker arm 24, as in open position of the valve, sufficient space is created between the upper end of the valve stem and the rocker arm to enable the umbrellalike member 23 to be inserted on top of the valve stem. The member 23 has an upper relatively thick transverse portion 25 which is centrally and circularly perforated as at 26 to fit snugly on the cylindrical valve stem. From the transverse portion 25 the member 23 is outwardly and downwardly annularly belled as at 27 to provide the umbrella-like formation already referred to of relatively thinner cross-section.

When now, the member 23 having been thus located in position on the upper end of the valve stem, the valve is released, the spring 12 moves the valve stem upwardly to closed position of the valve until first the member 23 and then the upper end of the valve stem is brought into an engagement with the lower face of the valve rocker arm 24 (Fig. 2). Thereupon, and particularly thereafter by repeated action of the rocker arm on the valve stem during periodic opening movements of the valve, the member 23 is moved to the position on the valve stem shown at 28 in Fig. 2, in which the member is tightly pressed onto the valve stem to effect an oil seal as indicated by the arrow 29 at the annular face 20 of the valve stem. At the same time, the belled portion 27 of the member 23 is deflected as at 30 and compressed into the dished depression 17 in the spring retainer 13 to provide an oil seal as indicated by the arrow 31 between the vertical wall 32 or shoulder 32a of the dished depression 17 and the member 23.

So constructed and arranged the member 23 prevents the accumulation of oil in the dished depression 17 and guards against the passage of oil between the valve stem and the retainer keys and between the latter and the spring retainer. At the same time some oil, which is particularly desirable in the form of fine spray or mist, is permitted to be deposited on the valve stem below the spring retainer to lubricate the valve stem in the valve guide (not shown).

If it be desired to further load a member such as 23 onto the valve stem it may be constructed as shown at 32 (Fig. 3), in which the transverse portion 33 thereof has encircling it a wire snap ring 34. By this means the member 32 may be held tightly on the valve stem without the reliance upon the pressure of the rocker arm 24.

Figure 4 shows a modification in which the elastomeric member 35 while still umbrella-like is of flatter formation, embodying the central transverse cylindrical portion 36 and a right angular portion 37 extending radially and axially therefrom having a down-turned peripheral edge 38. In the annular groove 39 thus provided on the underface of the member 35 is located a metal loading ring 40 also of angular formation in cross-section, having one axially extending portion 41 which surrounds the transverse portion 36 of the member and another radially extending portion 42 that abuts the radially extending portion of the angular portion 37 of the member 35.

In the still further modified form shown in Fig. 5, the elastomeric member 43 is radially extended as at 44 to cover the entire retainer including the flange 18 and has a downturned peripheral edge 45 that seals on the outside periphery of the retainer. The member 43 may carry a loading ring 46. In addition to such peripheral seal, the member 43 has the intermediate annular head 46 which seals as at 47 on the wall 32:: of the dished depression 17 of the retainer 13, similarly to the sealing action at this point of the other forms of resilient members 23, 32 and 35. The intermediate annular head 46 is advantageously wedgeshape in cross-section and is pressed into the depression 17, having a vertical surface which closely laps the depression surface 32a.

' 'In eachform, the elas tomeric member is of umbrellalike shape and is of sufficient diameter to cover at least the dished depression 17 of the spring retainer cup and deflects the oil away from the interfaces between the spring retainer and the valve stem, sealing on the valve stem and also having a laterally extended annular portion sealing on the shoulder 32a.

Such changes may be made as fall within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the invention.

What is here claimed is:

1. In valve stem oil deflector means for overhead valves, the combination with a valve stem having a spring retainer thereon of cup formation having a hollow body and a dished depression at its upper end, said depression being defined by a vertical annular wall on said retainer spaced from said stem, of an umbrella-like member of elastomeric material on :said stem on top of said retainer, said member having an annular thickened portion having a circular opening passing the stem snugly therethrough in oil sealing relationship with the stern and having an annular laterally extended portion engaging said shoulder in oil sealing relationship therewith, whereby to prevent oil from running down between the stern and said retainer.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein there is an annular metallic reinforcement carried by said umbrella-like member spaced from said opening.

3. The structure of claim 2 wherein the umbrella-like member is radially and annularly extended to cover the entire top of said retainer.

4. In valve stem oil deflector means for overhead valves, a deflector member of elastorneric material for mounting on said valve stem, said member having a relatively thick transverse portion and an umbrella-like depending skirt portion, said transverse portion having a central opening for snugly but slidably receiving the valve stem therethrough, said skirt portion being of relatively thinner crosssection than said transverse portion, and an annular metallic reinforcement carried by said member spaced from said opening.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,573,075 Lehmann Feb. 16, 1926 1,993,473 Brackett Mar. 5, 1935 2,633,111 Pielstick Mar. 31, 1953 

